Sweetwater High School Creates Tiered Intervention Plan and Sees ...
CASE STUDY
Sweetwater High School Creates Tiered Intervention Plan and Sees Double-Digit Gains in Pass and Proficiency Rates CAHSEE Pass Rates Improve Dramatically 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
100% 90% 80%
91%
79%
83%
80% 78% 79%
70% 60%
71%
‘07
‘08
‘09
‘10
‘11
‘07
74% 75% 75%
‘08
Math
‘09
‘10
‘11
ELA
n= 2006-07: 828 in Math, 829 in ELA, 2007-08: 774 in Math, 781 in ELA, 2008-09: 788 in Math, 793 in ELA; 2009-10: 746 in Math and 753 in ELA, 2010-11: 692 in Math, 690 in ELA
In terms of CAHSEE pass rates: • An additional 11% of students passed Math (from 80% to 91%). • An additional 8% of students passed English Language Arts (ELA) (from 75% to 83%).
The Challenge Founded in 1921, Sweetwater High School (SUHI) is one of the oldest high schools in San Diego County. Despite serving a diverse student body of over 2,800 students, of which approximately 84% qualify for free and reduced meals, SUHI is committed towards improving the test scores of their traditionally underrepresented students and has been recognized as a California Distinguished School. Their school objective is that 100% of SUHI students will graduate with the necessary skills to attain success in postsecondary education and/or their career of choice. The first step towards ensuring that all SUHI students will be collegeready is to make sure that their entire student body can pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). During the 2006-2010 school years, SUHI increased their CAHSEE pass rate from 71% to 75% in English and 79% to 80% in Math. Yet SUHI administrators felt that merely passing the CAHSEE was still not enough – for their students to truly be college-ready, they had to not only pass, but demonstrate proficiency as measured by AYP standards. With SUHI proficient rates stagnating around 55% in both ELA and Math, SUHI administrators decided to design a holistic approach targeting all students. It took a group of highly committed people—our staff, our community, and the folks of Revolution K12—all worked together to achieve this success.” - Richard Carreon, Assistant Principal SUHI
The Solution Taking a data-driven approach, SUHI administrators examined longitudinal data correlating how 9th graders performed on the California Standards Tests (CSTs) and whether, once they became a 10th grader, they passed or were proficient on the CAHSEE. The examined scale CST scores calculated how likely it was that a student scoring between 320329 on the Algebra 1 CST would score proficient on the CAHSEE Math. Additionally they looked at how that probability changed if they had scored between 340-349 on the Geometry CST. One of their most surprising findings was that 9th grade students who were proficient in either ELA or Math had only a 50% chance of scoring proficient on the 10th grade CAHSEE. SUHI administrators realized that there was, to some point, a fundamental misunderstanding of the psychometrics behind the CSTs and CAHSEE. Many educators are told that passing the CAHSEE only requires an 8th grade reading level, however, to truly be proficient, requires 10th grade content mastery. Based on this information, SUHI rebuilt their master schedule. They shifted their thinking from focusing on purchasing hardware, to investing in online tools such as Revolution K12’s CAHSEE 380 that would really speak to extending student capabilities. SUHI then created a tiered intervention program that differentiated how much support students were given based on need. Level of Support Needed Intensive
Moderate
Selected
Elective Course
CHASEE 380 Classes
Elective Pullout Mandatory After-Hours
SUHI started with a two week intervention in September, where four teachers each had 35 students using either the CAHSEE 380 Math or ELA programs everyday for four hours. Then, students who were in intensive support classes were put into a double-block of either ELA or Math, so that they would have time in direct instruction as well as support with the CAHSEE 380 program. Ultimately, SUHI involved parents, teachers and the community. They contacted parents to let them know of their efforts which included: voluntary Saturday bootcamps in the two weekends before the exam; pairing of their most effective teachers with their highest need students; organizing assemblies to encourage students along the way; and partnering with the community who dontated breakfast and pizza. Becoming proficient on the CAHSEE became a community-wide goal.
transforming education REVOLUTIONK12.COM | 877.463.8951
CASE STUDY Additional Results The metric most important towards determining whether a school has made AYP is the percent of students scoring proficient and above on state exit exams. SUHI reported the following improvements: •
An additional 20.1% of students scored proficient and above in ELA (from 46.0% to 66.1%).
•
An additional 16.2% of students scored proficient and above in Math (from 55.3% to 71.5%).
School-Wide Improvments in Proficiency 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
75% 70%
72%
65%
66%
60% 55%
55%
50% 45%
46%
40% Proficient & Above, Math
Proficient & Above, ELA
n= 2009-10: 746 in Math and 753 in ELA, 2010-11: 692 in Math, 690 in ELA
Double-Digit Growth from English Learners
English Learners (ELs) saw particularly impressive gains in CAHSEE pass and proficiency rates: •
An additional 22% of ELs passed Math (56% to 78%).
•
An additional 16% of ELs passed ELA (37% to 53%).
•
An additional 23% of ELs were proficient and above in Math (from 20% to 43%).
•
An additional 13% of ELs were proficient and above in ELA (from 5% to 18%).
2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50%
53%
45% 40% 37%
35% 30%
In terms of special education CAHSEE pass rates: •
An additional 19% passed Math (from 34% to 53%).
•
An additional 12% passed ELA (from 31% to 43%).
Passed CAHSEE Math
Passed CAHSEE ELA
n= 2009-10: 237 ELs in Math and 240 ELs in ELA, 2010-11: 197 ELs in Math, 198 ELs in ELA
Double-Digit Growth amongst Special Education Students 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
60% 55%
Success on the CAHSEE was dependent on a lot of different moving pieces – the use of data, having effective teachers… but in my mind, one of the central pieces was having a high quality curriculum to organize around. That’s what Revolution K12’s CAHSEE 380 provided.” - Roman Del Rosario, Principal SUHI
©2012 Revolution Prep. All rights reserved. Source: CA Department of Education, DataQuest
50% 45% 40% 35%
31%
30% Passed CAHSEE Math
Passed CAHSEE ELA
n= 2009-10: 74 special education students in each subject, 2010-11: 75 special education students in Math, 76 special education students in ELA
REVOLUTIONK12.COM | 877.463.8951
Sweetwater High School Creates Tiered Intervention Plan and Sees Double-Digit Gains in Pass and Proficiency Rates CAHSEE Pass Rates Improve Dramatically 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
100% 90% 80%
91%
79%
83%
80% 78% 79%
70% 60%
71%
‘07
‘08
‘09
‘10
‘11
‘07
74% 75% 75%
‘08
Math
‘09
‘10
‘11
ELA
n= 2006-07: 828 in Math, 829 in ELA, 2007-08: 774 in Math, 781 in ELA, 2008-09: 788 in Math, 793 in ELA; 2009-10: 746 in Math and 753 in ELA, 2010-11: 692 in Math, 690 in ELA
In terms of CAHSEE pass rates: • An additional 11% of students passed Math (from 80% to 91%). • An additional 8% of students passed English Language Arts (ELA) (from 75% to 83%).
The Challenge Founded in 1921, Sweetwater High School (SUHI) is one of the oldest high schools in San Diego County. Despite serving a diverse student body of over 2,800 students, of which approximately 84% qualify for free and reduced meals, SUHI is committed towards improving the test scores of their traditionally underrepresented students and has been recognized as a California Distinguished School. Their school objective is that 100% of SUHI students will graduate with the necessary skills to attain success in postsecondary education and/or their career of choice. The first step towards ensuring that all SUHI students will be collegeready is to make sure that their entire student body can pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). During the 2006-2010 school years, SUHI increased their CAHSEE pass rate from 71% to 75% in English and 79% to 80% in Math. Yet SUHI administrators felt that merely passing the CAHSEE was still not enough – for their students to truly be college-ready, they had to not only pass, but demonstrate proficiency as measured by AYP standards. With SUHI proficient rates stagnating around 55% in both ELA and Math, SUHI administrators decided to design a holistic approach targeting all students. It took a group of highly committed people—our staff, our community, and the folks of Revolution K12—all worked together to achieve this success.” - Richard Carreon, Assistant Principal SUHI
The Solution Taking a data-driven approach, SUHI administrators examined longitudinal data correlating how 9th graders performed on the California Standards Tests (CSTs) and whether, once they became a 10th grader, they passed or were proficient on the CAHSEE. The examined scale CST scores calculated how likely it was that a student scoring between 320329 on the Algebra 1 CST would score proficient on the CAHSEE Math. Additionally they looked at how that probability changed if they had scored between 340-349 on the Geometry CST. One of their most surprising findings was that 9th grade students who were proficient in either ELA or Math had only a 50% chance of scoring proficient on the 10th grade CAHSEE. SUHI administrators realized that there was, to some point, a fundamental misunderstanding of the psychometrics behind the CSTs and CAHSEE. Many educators are told that passing the CAHSEE only requires an 8th grade reading level, however, to truly be proficient, requires 10th grade content mastery. Based on this information, SUHI rebuilt their master schedule. They shifted their thinking from focusing on purchasing hardware, to investing in online tools such as Revolution K12’s CAHSEE 380 that would really speak to extending student capabilities. SUHI then created a tiered intervention program that differentiated how much support students were given based on need. Level of Support Needed Intensive
Moderate
Selected
Elective Course
CHASEE 380 Classes
Elective Pullout Mandatory After-Hours
SUHI started with a two week intervention in September, where four teachers each had 35 students using either the CAHSEE 380 Math or ELA programs everyday for four hours. Then, students who were in intensive support classes were put into a double-block of either ELA or Math, so that they would have time in direct instruction as well as support with the CAHSEE 380 program. Ultimately, SUHI involved parents, teachers and the community. They contacted parents to let them know of their efforts which included: voluntary Saturday bootcamps in the two weekends before the exam; pairing of their most effective teachers with their highest need students; organizing assemblies to encourage students along the way; and partnering with the community who dontated breakfast and pizza. Becoming proficient on the CAHSEE became a community-wide goal.
transforming education REVOLUTIONK12.COM | 877.463.8951
CASE STUDY Additional Results The metric most important towards determining whether a school has made AYP is the percent of students scoring proficient and above on state exit exams. SUHI reported the following improvements: •
An additional 20.1% of students scored proficient and above in ELA (from 46.0% to 66.1%).
•
An additional 16.2% of students scored proficient and above in Math (from 55.3% to 71.5%).
School-Wide Improvments in Proficiency 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
75% 70%
72%
65%
66%
60% 55%
55%
50% 45%
46%
40% Proficient & Above, Math
Proficient & Above, ELA
n= 2009-10: 746 in Math and 753 in ELA, 2010-11: 692 in Math, 690 in ELA
Double-Digit Growth from English Learners
English Learners (ELs) saw particularly impressive gains in CAHSEE pass and proficiency rates: •
An additional 22% of ELs passed Math (56% to 78%).
•
An additional 16% of ELs passed ELA (37% to 53%).
•
An additional 23% of ELs were proficient and above in Math (from 20% to 43%).
•
An additional 13% of ELs were proficient and above in ELA (from 5% to 18%).
2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50%
53%
45% 40% 37%
35% 30%
In terms of special education CAHSEE pass rates: •
An additional 19% passed Math (from 34% to 53%).
•
An additional 12% passed ELA (from 31% to 43%).
Passed CAHSEE Math
Passed CAHSEE ELA
n= 2009-10: 237 ELs in Math and 240 ELs in ELA, 2010-11: 197 ELs in Math, 198 ELs in ELA
Double-Digit Growth amongst Special Education Students 2007-2010, before Revolution K12
2010-11, with Revolution K12
60% 55%
Success on the CAHSEE was dependent on a lot of different moving pieces – the use of data, having effective teachers… but in my mind, one of the central pieces was having a high quality curriculum to organize around. That’s what Revolution K12’s CAHSEE 380 provided.” - Roman Del Rosario, Principal SUHI
©2012 Revolution Prep. All rights reserved. Source: CA Department of Education, DataQuest
50% 45% 40% 35%
31%
30% Passed CAHSEE Math
Passed CAHSEE ELA
n= 2009-10: 74 special education students in each subject, 2010-11: 75 special education students in Math, 76 special education students in ELA
REVOLUTIONK12.COM | 877.463.8951
